Cops crack Panir shrine stone pelting case : One arrested

Cops crack Panir shrine stone pelting case : One arrested

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Mar 10, 2015 : A person named Ananda (30) from Ukkuda in Kinya has been arrested by the police on charges of stoning the St Joseph Vaz prayer centre at Panir. The glass enclosure of the statue of Mother Mary and Infant Jesus was damaged in the stoning reported on February 24 night.

Speaking to reporters at his office on March 10, Tuesday, city Police Commissioner S Murugan said Anand was arrested following a tip off. He said interrogations of the accused revealed that he used to work as a painter for the church earlier and had quit the job due to low pay. The Commissioner said the accused hurled stones towards the shrine on February 24 under the influence of alcohol while sitting at the graveyard close by the prayer centre.

The accused has been produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

The investigation into the case was done by a special team led by Ullal SI Savithru Tej and comprising Bharathi and Rajendra B, SIs. The Commissioner also informed that the team would be rewarded for solving the case.

Referring to security measures in place in religious shrines, the Commissioner said many a time the CC Cameras installed would be of poor quality and identifying the culprits become difficult in case of any theft or disruptive act.

He informed that 20 good quality CCTV cameras are being installed at several vital points in the city utilising the Rs 2 crores sanctioned for the purpose.